Contagion in the EU: falls in Germany, worries Spain, France and the United Kingdom

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From the WHO in Geneva comes the last sentence: “The vast majority of people in most countries remain vulnerable to coronavirus.” Words from the director of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who recalls how “studies suggest that in most countries less than 10% of the population has been infected with Covid-19”. “Allowing a dangerous virus that we do not fully understand to circulate freely,” he added, “is simply immoral. It is not an option.” The director of the WHO emergency program, Mike Ryan, was more precise: “We look with concern – he said – the increase in hospitalizations in countries such as France and the United Kingdom.” But Spain is also worrying. In fact, it is the seventh most affected country in the world, but it is currently the first in Europe with 835,901 cases as of October 8. Deaths in Spain have exceeded 32,000 and in the last week 66,713 new cases and 771 deaths have been registered.

France awaits Macron’s words

In France, the speech that President Emmanuel Macron will deliver to the nation is expected on Wednesday, October 14. As of October 11, there were 70 departments in a highly vulnerable situation. France is the tenth most affected country in the world and the second in Europe with 734,974 cases until last Sunday, 32,730 deaths (477 only in the last week) and a positive test rate of 17% with 5,084 hospitalizations in the last week of the which 910 in intensive care. The French in polls say they are tired of hearing only about the virus and many French newspapers are starting to ignore even the data on the epidemic.

Premier Johnson enforces a three-stage lockdown in the UK

The UK data is also worrying with 546,952 cases up to last week (the 12th most affected country in the world, the 3rd most affected country in Europe). More than 42 thousand dead. In the last week 91,106 cases and 372 deaths. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a three-level lockdown: “A general lockdown like in the spring – he said – would not be the right thing to do” but at the same time “we cannot let the disease run its course: this would lead to many deaths and the the health system would be overwhelmed. ”The restrictions can also apply to bars and pubs in the highest risk areas, which has already sparked strong protests in many parts of the country.

In Germany there are fewer infections but perhaps new borders will be activated

However, the trend of infections in Germany (the fifth most affected country in Europe) raises less concern. As announced by the Robert Koch Institute, from Sunday to Monday there were 2,467 cases (and six deaths) after being over the 4,000 of the previous days, with 6 deaths. The total of Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the epidemic has risen to 325,331, with 9,621 deaths. According to data updated to Sunday, 21,527 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in 7 days, with an average incidence of 25.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, but with “considerably higher” rates in Berlin (more than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in some districts) and Bremen. Infections among the elderly are increasing slightly, while the incidence of cases among those returning from travel is decreasing. The virus’s reproduction rate rose to 1.4 based on data from 4 days to Sunday. Due to the strong growth of new infections in neighboring countries such as France, the German Interior Ministry no longer precludes the reintroduction of border controls, although it would prefer to avoid them. With the quarantine and testing, “we tried to secure as much as possible without having to consider other border measures,” Interior spokesman Steve Alter said. Last spring, the Federal Republic reintroduced border controls with several neighboring countries, effectively suspending free movement under the Schengen Convention.

Italy is the fourth most affected country in Europe

As for Italy (it is still the 4th most affected country in Europe and 18th in the world), in the last week there were 333,940 cases with 36,061 deaths. In the last week, 19,072 cases and 167 deaths have been registered.